Instantaneous-ignition mechanism for fuel-oil atomizers.



ZERS.

- A. DOBLE. I INSTANTANEOUS IGNITION MECHANISM FOR FUEL OIL ATOMI 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Mar. 26

fly. 1.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1912.

A. DOBLE. INSTANTANEOUS IGNITION MECHANISM FOR FUEL OIL ATOMIZERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. I917.

- Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ion sinus nrnr (DEEKQE.

AIBNER DOBLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 GENERAL ENGINEERING COM- PANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATIONQOF MICHIGAN.

INSTANTANEOUS-IGNITION MECHANISM FOR FUEL-OIL ATOMIZERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, @918.

Application filed May 12, 1917. Serial Ito. 168,301.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER DoBLE, a citi-- bustion of such hydrocarbons in their normal temperature condition.

My invention has its application in connection with the utilization of heavy hydrocarbons, such as kerosene and distillate, as

fuel for the rapid generation of steam in the power plant of steam-driven automobiles, wherein the elimination of the annoyance and delay of pre-vaporization of the fuel and the rapid generation of steam are essential requisites in a commercial successful automobile.

Heavy liquid hydrocarbons such as kerosene can, as I have found in practice, be very effectively and completely burned, without I pre-heating or pre-vaporization, from an tendant upon a utilization'of the atomizing initially normal or so-called cold temperature condition and extremely high temperatures obtained for the generation of steam, by the atomization process of finely dividing or pulverizing the liquid and mixing it with proper amount of air to support combustion and confining the combustion in a closed refractory chamber which attains an intense incandescent temperature. The hydrocarbon at normal temperatures may be atomized or broken up and mixed with the proper proportion of air to complete combustion within said chamber, or the air which supports combustion may be used as the atomizing agency for finely dividing the hydrocarbon and projecting it into the com-' bustion chamber. In any event, however,

there must be a sufficient proportion of air in the mixture to complete combustion in the combustion chamber, without any smoke or soot whatever, else the r'very advantage atmethod in a steam driven automobile power plant, is lost. As before mentioned, I have found in practice that a mixture of the atomized fuel and air burned in a chamberin the manner above mentioned can be completely consumed without soot and smoke, but such a mixture (which I will refer to for convenience as the main or completely combustible mixture), has a relatively ex-' cessive proportion of air and a relatively small proportion of atomized fuel. In other words, relatively speaking, this mixture is rich in air and lean in hydrocarbon.

The extreme desirability in an automobile power plant, of instantaneous initiation of combustion of fuel, and the use of an electric spark for this purpose, is at once obvious, but a mixture such as I have just described will not ignite at normal temperature by means of an electric spark, although, after having been properly ignited, it will sustain complete combustion in said chamber. So far as I am able to ascertain, the failure of this mixture to ignite from a spark is due to the fact that a spark of praqtical proportions, although intensely-hot, is comparatively small in volume, and in such a relatively lean mixture the particles of fuel are separated in a comparatively large volume of air to such an extent that the air absorbs the heat and prevents the transmission of heat to adjacent particles from those ignited. Furthermore, if in addition the body of mixture is moving at comparatively high Velocity, the particles do not remain inthe small zone of heat of the spark long enough to become ignited.

I have discovered, however, that a mixture of finely divided hydrocarbon and air at the normal atmospheric temperatures can readily be instantly ignited by an electric spark if the mixture is excessive or rich in hydrocarbon and lean in air, but on the other hand a mixture of this character is not completely combustible, there being in- .suflioient air therein to entirely or completely consume thehydrocarbon even un-- by an electric spark because, so far as I able to ascertain, theparticles of hydrocarbon are relatively close together and not diluted with air to any great extent, hence a the heat generated by the spark, although nites the main mixture.

small in volume, is readily dissipated and absorbed into the fuel particles instead of air, and t e particles in the immediate heat zone ignite and readily transmit their'flame to the adjacent particles, thus instantly building up a body of flame throu hout the mixture. Now, by utilizing the dharacteristics of both of these mixtures, I am able sufficient proportions to completely burn this hydrocarbon, and a second incompletely combustible or auxiliary mixture of smaller volume, the second mixture being arranged in ignitingrelation to said main mixture, and in the 'zone of the auxiliary mixture I introduce an electric spark. The heat of the spark ignites the auxiliary mixture which transmits its flames to and ig- The flame of the auxiliary mixture need be maintained only for sufficient period of time to bring about the ignition of the main flame.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved mixture-forming and ignition mechanism for automobile power' plants, which mechanism will produce a combustible liquid fuel mixture and will instantaneously ignite or initiate combustion in said mixture at normal temperature.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an automobile power plant structure which embodies my invention and which accomplishes the desired results.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the blower main atomizer and combustion chamber of a structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a s milar section, but taken through the auxiliary atomizing and combustion initiating mechanism.

Fi 3 is atransverse section taken substantlally on the line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is an end v1ew of the structure from the interior of the combustion chamber.

Fig. 5 is a detail section of one of the main fuel atomizer nozzles, taken on the. line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The main or completely combustible mixture, to which I have referred is in the present structure produced by a blower A and Venturi atomizers B of which there are two placed side by side, although for the purpose of my invention one atomizer is sufficient. produce two streams or currents of mixture. These atomizers are formed by the fuelnozzles D and the tubular Venturi passages B. The Venturi passages are formed in the Venturi member C which is divided vertically and the sections provided with flanges C bolted together with a gasket between for making an air-tight joint. The Venturi passages are tapered, being larger in diameter at their inner dischargeends. A portion of the length of these Venturi passages are formed by separate removable tapered tubes C for convenience of manufacture and to enable different sized Venturi passages to be provided, if desired. The fuel-nozzles D are positioned in the throats thereof, their ends reaching to about the center of the Venturi throats. The two fuel-nozzles D are formed integral with a manifold member D and rise upwardly into the Venturi passages. These upright portions have fuel passages D which are supplied with liquid fuel from the manifold D and at their upper ends they have annular or ring-portions D into which small Venturi tubes D are removably fastened by small set-screws. The manifold passage is connected at one end with a source of liquid fuel, and a float-valve D of usual or standard type is interposed in the pipe line to control the level of the fuel in the nozzles. This float-valve is secured to the end of the'manifold member. The ring ortions have annular grooves D formmg uel passages communicating with the fuel passages D and serving to convey the fuel to small jet openings D in the upper sides of the small Venturi walls. The blower A is mounted at the ends of the atomizer passages with its outlet A directly connected with the said passages, the blower outlet being divided into two passages to register with the two Venturi passages. The blower may, of course, be of any suitable type for the purpose, but preferably is. of the socalled volume type consisting of a casing A and a fan or blade wheel A rotatable therein, and capable of producing and moving a large constant volume of air through the Venturi passages. It is preferably driven by a small electric motor A mounted upon one side of the blower casin and directly connected to the fan wheel sl iaftl One terminal of the motor is connected by the conductor E with a source of current such as an electric battery F. The other terminals of both The two atomizers in this case battery and motor are grounded. A switch G is provided in thisv circuit by which the operator may control the operation of the motor as desired, although this control may be automatic if desired. The blower provides a constant blast or currentof air, a portion of which is diverted through each of the small Venturi tubes, and in accordance with the principles of atomization draws the liquid fuel from the jet openings D and pulverizes or finely divides and mixes with the fuel, thus producing a spray of mixture from each of the small Venturi tubes. As the spray leaves the end of the small Venturi tubes, great volumes of air are supplied thereto, this being the air which passes between the small Venturi tubes and walls of the large Venturi passages. These volumes of excess air meet the fuel spray and dilute it to the proper proportions for supporting complete combustion. In this structure the mixture thus produced is projected into a closed combustion chamber G, the walls of which are formed of refractory material capable of being rendered incandescent by the heat of combustion. This chamber has side walls G and a bottom wall G, and the corners and angles are well rounded so as to give the combustion a general bowl shape.

The Venturi member extends substantially horizontally into the combustion chamber some distance, the wall of the combustion chamber being cut away to provide for this Venturi member, although the structure seals this opening to prevent the admission of outside air. This main mixture is thus projected into the combustion chamber and when the mixture is ignited two flames sweep across the combustion chamber to the oppo site wall thereof, where they meet with a curved bafiie (not shown) by which the Streams are deflected or turned back horizontally upon themselves and along thebottom and walls of the combustion chamber,

thus producing a double vortex of violent swirling flame within the' chamber. The flames are confined by the walls and bottom of the chamber which with great rapidity .and uniformity become highly incandescent and thus create an intense uniform zone of heat within the chamber, which brings about a complete combustion of the hydrocarbon. The atomizers and blower are so proportioned that the main mixture from these atomizers is supplied with copious quantities of air from the blower, sufficient to support the complete combustion ofthe fuel within the chamber. In consequence, the mixture is relatively dilute and cannot be directly ignited from the small flash from an electric spark of practical proportions. I therefore produce the auxiliary mixture which will ignite by the spark and effect the ignition of the main mixture by the flame of the ignited auxiliary mixture. In the structure shown a long chamber J is formed" in the member (5 and positioned underneath and between the main Venturi passages. This chamber is closed except at its inner end, part of the walls of the end portions of the main Venturi passages being cut away to. provide direct communication between the auxiliary chamber and the Venturi passages at their inner discharge ends. In addition, the structure has an upturned lip K across the ends of the Venturi passages and the auxiliary chamber so as to divert or deflect the auxiliary flame upwardly directly in the path of the main mixture projected from the nozzles whereby to immediately ignite said mixture. At the closed end of the auxiliary chamber there is a fuel nozzle L fed from the same source of hydrocarbon at the same normal temperature as the main nozzles, being connected with the same manifold D as the main fuel nozzles. This nozzle is likewise formed integral with the manifold member. The nozzle passage If terminates in the flat upper end L of the nozzle membento permit the fuel to flow therefrom. Just in the rear of this nozzle passage the nozzle member has a transverse notch or groove having a vertical wall or face L and an inclined wall or face L, this. latter wall inclining toward the fuel nozzle. The air for atomizing or pulverizing the fuel is projected through a small air nozzle passage L disposed at right angles to the fuel nozzle passage and opening through the vertical face L of the notch, but this air nozzle is slightly below the plane of the'end of the fuel nozzle so that it will direct a stream of air against the upper portion of the inclined face L and thereby be deflected the inner open end thereof. However, a relatively small proportion of air is thus mixed with the pulverized fuel but just enough to support combustion to some extent, the mixture being very rich in fuel. In such condition it'will readily ignite with a spark. This mixture, rich in fuel, fills the chamber and provides a very fertile zone or field for the heat of the spark to ignite and accelerate combustion in the mixture. The fuel and mixture are of course at normal, that is, at-

mospheric temperature. The spark in the structure shown is produced at the terminals N of the plug N which terminals are pos1-. tioned in the upper portion of -the chamber ing thus initiated combustion in the auxiliary mixture by the small intensely hot zone of the spark, which ignition in practice is instantaneous, a flame of substantial proportions is produced which is emitted from the inner end of the auxiliary chamber J into the path of the main mixture and ignites the main mixture as before described. For further aid in projecting the" flafninto the path of the main spray, the'- w'allsof, the auxiliary chamber-J have small openings J which permit gentle drafts of air from the blower to enter said chamber J and carry the flame to the open end thereof. The duration of the auxiliary flame need be but momen tary because in practice, the matter of time from the initiation of the spark until the main streams of mixture become ignited is practically instantaneous. However, the volume of auxiliary mixture is relatively smaller than the volume of main mixture and does not, when ignited, produce any appreciable volumeof smoke; hence if it is continued for any length of time the smoke is not noticeable, particularly since the smoke is carried into the combustion chamber by the main mixture and there consumed. Returning to the auxiliary atomizer it'will be observed that the air nozzle passage is formed by a horizontal bore the rear end of which is plugged by a threaded member L", this construction being provided because it facilitates manufacture, and because it affords accessibility to the nozzle passages for cleaning purposes. The nozzle member has an inclined passage L which communicates at its upper end with the air nozzle and its lower end is carried to the bottom 0 a the manifold member so that connections may be made therewith outside the structure. This passage is connected with a pipe which extends to the air supply tank. A valve L is interposed in thispipe line by which the air to the nozzle may be turned on and off, and which may be either autoniatically or manually controlled as desired. The entire fuel manifold member and nozzles are preferably formed as a unit which can be at- Y tached or detached from the structure with- .out disturbing the adjustment of the nozzles.

For this as well as manufacturing reasons the manifold member has an annular flange which is bolted and sealed with a gasket on the under side of the structure, these underwalls of the Venturi passages and auxiliary chamber being provided with suitable openings to receive the manifold and nozzles. At one end of the manifold member is a float or level regulator for the fuel, which may be of i any standard or approved type and which is provided to maintain the fuel at a point in the atomizer nozzles close to the ends thereof.

The electrical equipment for the production of the spark may be of any suitable type for the purpose. In the drawings I illustrate an ordlnaryspark coil, the secondary winding S of which is connected with the spark plug in a grounded circuit S while the primary winding P is in a grounded circuit P which includes the battery F. This circuit also in cludes the suitable switch G by which the operator may control the spark as and when desired. f The combustion chamber is in practice closed at its upper end by a steam generator R, the lower ends of the evaporating units of which are indicated, so that the heat produced by the main flame of burning'fuel is instantly available for the generation of steam.

I claim 1. The combination of a member having two tubular passages and an independent chamber therebetween communicating with said tubular passages at the end portions thereof, liquid-fuel nozzles positioned in said tubular passages, an auxiliary fuel-nozzle in said chamber, an air blower connected to said tubular passages for finely dividing the fuel from said nozzles and projecting streams of mixture of fuel and air from said tubular passages, an air nozzle arranged to spray the fuel from said auxiliary nozzle into said chamber, and an ignition device for initiating combustion in said spray.

2. The combination of an air blower having a pair of substantially parallel tubular outletpassages, an independent chamber positioned adjacent said passages and having an outlet opening communicating with said passages, liquid-fuel nozzles positioned in said passages for supplying fuel to be atomized by the currents of air from said blower, an auxiliary atomizer in said chamber for providing a fuel-mixture in said chamber, and an instantaneous ignition device for said fuel-mixture.

3.- The combination of an air blower having a pair of substantially parallel tubular outlet passages, an independent chamber positioned adjacent said passages and having an outlet opening communicating with said passages, liquid-fuel nozzles positioned in said passages for supplying fuel to be atomized by the currents of air from said blower, an auxiliary atomizer in said chamber for providing a fuel-mixture in said chamber, an instantaneous ignition device for said fuel-mixture, and means creating a gentle draft of air in said chamber to carry the flame out of the outlet opening of said chamber.

4. The combination of a burner member having a plurality of tubular Venturi passages forming mixing chambers, a common fuel manifold removably secured to said each Venturi passage, and an air blower common to all of said Venturi passages for supplying air to said Venturi passages.

5. The combination of an air blower having a divided outlet, and having parallel tubular Venturi passages open at their ends, an intermediate chamber open at its end, liquid-fuel nozzles in said tubular Venturi passages for subjecting liquid-fuel to the atomizing action of the currents of air through said passages whereby to produce streams of combustible mixture from said passages, a liquid-fuel atomizer in said intermediate chamber, an electric spark igniter in the zone of the spray of said fuel-atomizer for initiating combustion in said spray, and means for directing the flame of said spray into igniting relation to the fuel-mixture from said Venturi passages.

6. The combination of an air blower having a divided outlet, and having parallel tu bular Venturi passages open at their ends, an intermediate chamber open at its end, liquid-fuel nozzles in said tubular Venturi passages for subjecting liquid-fuel to the atomizing action of the currents of air through said passages whereby to produce streams of combustible mixture from said passages, a liquid-fuel atomizer in said intermediate chamber, an electric spark igniter in the zone of the spray of said fuel-atomizer for initiating combustion in said spray, openings in the walls of said intermediate chamber for producing currents of air through said passages, 1i uid-fuel atomizers in said passa es operable y said air currents to finely divide the liquid fuel, and'Venturi mixing tubes in said casing for mixing the finely divided fuel and air in proper proportions.

8.-The combination of a casing having two parallel passages, an air blower having its outlet connected to both passages for producing currents of air through said passages, liquid-fuel atomizers in said passages operable by said air currents to'finely divide th liquid fuel, Venturi m1xmg tubes in said casing for mixing the finely divided fuel and air in proper proportions, and electric sparking means fOr igniting said mixture.

9. The combination of a blowerhaving a blade wheel and a casing inclosing said wheel and having two tubular outlet members, removable Venturi mixing tubes in said outlet members through which said atomizer positioned at the mouth of each of said Venturi tubes andspaced from the Wall thereof and comprising a small Venturi tube having an annular external fuel passage and an opening therefrom to the interior of said tube, and a removable manifold member on which said atomizers are carried and having fuel passages leading to said annular passages.

10. The combination of a main fuel atonr izer for producing a mixture of finely-divided hydrocarbon and air in sufficient quantity to support complete combustion of said hydrocarbon, an auxiliary atomizer for producing an incompletely-combustible mixture of said hydrocarbon and air, an inclosure for said auxiliary atomizer arranged to project the flame of said auxiliary mixture in advance of the main fuel atomizer and in the path thereof to ignite said mixture, and an electrically-operated device for instantly igniting said auxiliary mixture.

11. The combination of a main liquid fuel atomizer for producing a mixture of fuel and air, an inclosure forming an ignition chamber and means of communication from said ignition chamber in advance of the main liquid fuel atomizer, an auxiliary fuel mixture-forming atomizer in said ignition chamber, and an electrically-operated igniter in said chamber in position to initiate combustion of the auxiliary mixture, the flame from which is directed into the stream of mixture from the main liquid fuel atomizer.

12. In an instantaneous ignition system for automobile power plants, the combination of a tubular liquid fuel atomizer and mixer for producing a mixture, an inclosure formlng n ignition chamber adjacent to but indepe lent of said tubular atomizer and having an oZh-tlet in communication with and in advance of said atomizer, an auxil iary atomizer for producing a fuel mixture in said chamber,- which mixture when ignited, flames from said outlet into igniting relation to said combustible mixture, and an electric ignition device in said chamber for igniting the mixture from the auxiliary atomizer.

13. The combination of a means for forming a non-spark-ignitible fuel spray and ignition mechanism therefor comprising a liquid fuel atomizer for roducing a sparkignitible spray of liquid fuel, an electric sparking device for igniting said spark-ignitible spray' of liquid fuel, and an inclosed ignition chamber inclosing said spraying atomizer and sparking device and having an outlet to direct the flame of said ignited spray into igniting relation to said fuel burner.

14. An electric spark ignitible burner for an inclosure for said auxiliary atomizer and sparking device, having an outlet for directing the flame of said mixture into igniting relation to said main mixture, and a source of hydrocarbon for supplying fuel at normal temperature to said atomizers.

15'. The combination of an air blower having a plurality of outlets, a member having a plurality of tubular passages connected with said outlets and positioned side by side, an individual fuel nozzle positioned in each of said tubular passages for supplying liquid fuel to be atomized by and mixed with the current of air through said passage, and common ignition means positioned to simultaneously ignite the mixture from all of said passages. j

16. An instantaneous hydrocarbon burner for steam-driven automobile power plants comprising a burner member having a plu' rality of liquid-fuel spraying and mixture forming atomizers, an auxiliary burner common to all of said atomizers and arranged when ignited to simultaneously ignite the fuel-mixtures therefrom, and an electric spark device for igniting said auxiliary burner.

17. The combination of a main liquid-fuel burner, and an i ition mechanism therefor comprising a llquid-fuel nozzle and air atomizer arranged to produce a spray of finely divided fuel, an electric sparking device positioned to directly ignite said spray by means of said spark, and an independent chambered inclosure for said ignition mechanism and spark igniter and arranged to direct the flame of said spark ignited spray into igniting relation to said burner.

18. The combination of a main liquid fuel burner, and ignition means therefor comprising a housing forming an ignition chamer and having flame outletdisposed in igniting relation to said fuel burner, a liquid fuel atomizer arranged to spray the fuel within said chamber, and an ignition device within said-chamber positioned to ignitesaid spray of-fuel. Y i

19. The combination of a liquid fuel manifold;

1,2eo,52a

spraying burner, and an ignition means therefor comprising a housing forming an ignition chamber adjacent said burner'and having an opening directed so that a flame issuing therefrom will ignite said spray, a fuel nozzle within said chamber arranged to spray the fuel in said chamber, and an igniter positioned to ignite the spray within said chamber.

20. In an instantaneous fuel ignition mechanism, the combination of a fuel atomizer comprising oil supply means and a blower adapted to supply a large volume of lowpressure air for producing a finely divided spray of hydrocarbon capable of complete combustion, an auxiliary atomizer comprising oil supply means and means for supplying air in relatively small volume but high pressure producing a finely dividedspray of hydrocarbon incapable of complete combustion, an electric spark projected into the sprayed auxiliary mixture, and means for projecting the flame from the spark 1gn1ted mixture into the completely combustible spray.

i 21. The combination of an air blower, a burner member having a pair of Venturi passages connected at one end to said blower and open at their other ends, and having an ignition chamber open at one end adjacent the open ends of said passages, a liquid fuel nozzle in each of said Venturi passages to provide atomizers for producing fuel mixture, an atomizer in said ignition chamber arranged to project a fuelmixture in said chamber, and an ignition device for the second fuel mixture positioned within said ignition chamber.

22. The combination of an air blower, a Venturi member having-a pair of Venturi passages connected at one end to said blower and open at their other ends, and having an ignition chamber open at one end adjacent the open ends of sa1d passages, a liquid fuel nozzle in each of said Venturi passages to provide atomizers for producing fuel mixture, an atomizer in said ignition chamber arranged to project a fuel mixture in said chamber, an ignition-device for the second fuel mixture positioned within said ignition chamber, a common manifold supporting said nozzles and removable from said Venturi member, and a common source of liquid for all of said nozzles connected to said Si ed by me at Detroit, Mich, this 3 day of ay, 1917. p

ABNER DOBLE. 

